Method and apparatus for removing standing water from flat and contoured surfaces and from textured and patterned surfaces

Abstract

A water-wiping blade for wiping water from surfaces having projecting regions from the surface is based on a flexible panel having an upper and a lower long edge, with a handle interface along the upper long edge, and a lip formed along the lower long edge, the lip ending in a sharp line at the end away from the flexible panel. In a preferred embodiment a handle is attached by the handle interface along the upper long edge. By rotating the flexible panel around the handle length and urging the panel into a surface, the lip can be caused to wrap around regions projecting from the surface with the sharp line of the lip in contact with the surface. Translating the panel then is effective in wiping standing water from the surface even in the presence of such surface deformities, such as rivet heads and the like. In some embodiments handle extensions may be used to allow positioning the flexible panel in hard-to-reach places. Also in some embodiments a lip is provided to both sides of the flexible panel so either side may be used for wiping water, and lips of various shapes are taught.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A water-wiping apparatus for wiping standing water from a surface having deliberate protuberances selected from a group consisting of rivet heads and diamond patterns, comprising: a flexible panel having a thickness, a length, and a height at least ten percent of the length, with an upper long edge and a lower long edge substantially parallel;   a substantially rigid handle attached along at least a portion of the upper edge; and   a lip region formed along the lower long edge, extending to one side of the flexible panel and ending in a sharp line at the end away from the flexible panel the lip region having a shape and flexibility enabling it to conform to the said protuberances;   wherein as the flexible panel translates substantially parallel to the surface, the lip region forms around the said protuberances from the surface as the flexible panel passes over the said protuberances.   
     
     
       2. The water-wiping apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lip region has a triangular cross-section in a plane cutting the panel orthogonal to the length and parallel to the height. 
     
     
       3. The water-wiping apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lip region has a rectangular cross-section in a plane cutting the panel orthogonal to the length and parallel to the height. 
     
     
       4. The water-wiping apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flexible panel has a greater thickness at the upper edge than at the lower edge. 
     
     
       5. The water-wiping apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flexible panel is molded from silicone material. 
     
     
       6. The water-wiping apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lip region extends to both sides of the flexible panel. 
     
     
       7. The water-wiping apparatus of claim 1 wherein vertical side-by-side grooves are provided along the length of the flexible panel to lower the volume of material in the panel. 
     
     
       8. The water-wiping apparatus of claim 1 wherein the handle is adapted to be joined to a handle extension. 
     
     
       9. The water-wiping apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lip region ends at the edge away from the flexible panel in multiple v-shaped projections. 
     
     
       10. The water-wiping apparatus of claim 1 comprising multiple lip regions extending from the lower edge of the flexible panel in different directions. 
     
     
       11. A blade insert for a water-wiping apparatus for a surface having deliberate protuberances selected from a group consisting of rivet heads and diamond patterns comprising: a flexible panel having a thickness, a length, and a height at least ten percent of the length, with an upper edge and a lower long edge substantially parallel;   a handle interface along the upper edge adapted to join the flexible panel to a rigid handle; and   a lip region formed along the lower long edge, extending to one side of the flexible panel and ending in a sharp line at the end away from the flexible panel the lip region having a shape and flexibility enabling it to conform to the said protuberances;   wherein as the flexible panel translates substantially parallel to the surface, the lip region forms around the said protuberances from the surface as the blade insert passes over the said protuberances.   
     
     
       12. The blade insert of claim 11 wherein the handle interface comprises lengthwise grooves on opposite sides of the flexible panel. 
     
     
       13. The blade insert of claim 11 wherein the lip region has a triangular cross-section in a plane cutting the panel orthogonal to the length and parallel to the height. 
     
     
       14. The blade insert of claim 11 wherein the lip region has a rectangular cross-section in a plane cutting the panel orthogonal to the length and parallel to the height. 
     
     
       15. The blade insert of claim 11 wherein the flexible panel has a greater thickness at the upper edge than at the lower edge. 
     
     
       16. The blade insert of claim 11 wherein the flexible panel is molded from silicone material. 
     
     
       17. The blade insert of claim 11 wherein the lip region extends to both sides of the flexible panel. 
     
     
       18. A method for wiping standing water from surfaces having deliberate protuberances selected from the group consisting of rivet heads and diamonds patterns, comprising steps of: (a) forming a wiper blade of a flexible material, the wiper blade comprising a flexible panel having a thickness, a length, and a height at least ten percent of the length, with an upper long edge and a lower long edge substantially parallel, and a lip region formed along the lower long edge, the lip region extending to one side of the flexible panel and ending in a sharp line at the end away from the flexible panel, the lip region having a shape and flexibility enabling it to conform to the said protuberances;   (b) attaching a substantially rigid handle along at least a portion of the upper long edge, the handle having a central long axis;   (c) placing the wiper blade against the surface with the lower long edge in contact with the surface;   (d) rotating the wiper blade about the handle axis such that the sharp line at the end of the lip region is in contact with surface;   (e) urging the wiper blade toward the surface; and   (f) translating the wiper blade in a direction substantially parallel with the surface such that the lip region forms around the protuberances from the surface as the blade passes over the said protuberances.